who for years had sported with his feelings, outraged his heart, and degraded his honour, stood before him when he made the discovery, he might, under the violence of passion, the sense of injury, and the desire for vengeance, have sheathed a dagger in her heart; but after the storm was hushed, and he had sworn to her acts of infamy, in order that the brand of shame might cleave to her, his revenge was achieved, and I do not think he is the villain to have murdered her in cold blood. Recollect, he must have had an hour to meditate on this crime, for Lady Monro, by the servant's account, was alive more than an hour after I saw him leave the magistrate's office. Torsini is a violent, it may be a revengeful man, but I think he is no assassin. The power this wicked woman held over him may be looked on as one of those miracles we are permitted to witness, of the terrible, though short-lived triumph of vice, involving while it lasts the

peace of all who come within its spell, spreading dismay and terror like a pestilence around, till, running headlong on its work of destruction, it prepares and encompasses its own ruin. But it is useless to dwell on such a hideous picture and we are arrived in Arlington Street."

CHAPTER XII.

"Accident! This is no accident, but God's providence which brought us together, to punish us for our sins."

"Fear forged their fetters, hatred rivetted their bonds of fellowship."

"Thou canst not say that I did it."

LORD HORTON and Dr. M

entered the

house; the former inquired if any medical man had been summoned, and on the butler's replying in the negative, he requested, in Lord Enersdale's name, which he knew was a passport to Sir Horace's servants, that Doctor M— might be conducted to the chamber of death.

On the doctor's rejoining Lord Horton, he assured him that no trace of violence having been used was apparent. "She looks as though

she were asleep, rather than as though she were dead; but she is perfectly cold, and must, I think, have expired some time before her maid tried the doors. The servants have very properly abstained from moving the body, or from touching anything in the apartment. Her maid pointed out a man's glove on the floor-but, as she said, it might have been dropped by some morning visitor."

A servant announced that Dr. M-'s carriage had returned with a gentleman, and they hastened out to join Mr. Cavendish, who had meanwhile gone to Torsini's lodging to ascertain if he was at home. The inquiry had proved anything but satisfactory, for on asking if he was within, the landlady replied

"No, he is gone; he has taken all his things

away in a hackney coach not five minutes ago. up-stairs that he was

He told Madame

going abroad to-night."

"Did he leave no message-no note? is there nothing left in his apartment?"

"Nothing, I believe," said the woman, except this old glove; which I suppose he left because it had not a fellow."

"A glove!" exclaimed Lord Horton and

Dr. M

,

simultaneously.

glove!" repeated the latter;"

"An odd

may not its fellow be the one lying on the carpet of Lady Monro's room? This man may be as innocent as Mr. Cavendish believes, but his sudden departure has a suspicious appearance; and this glove, if it be the fellow, would justify his apprehension, could he be found."

"It cannot be many minutes before Enersdale and Sir Horace will arrive," answered